Rotary Floor Machine Attachment

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an attachment for rotary floor machines and a method for cleaning a floor, the baseboards, and both the treads and stair risers of a set of stairs. The attachment includes a disc-shaped housing with a top surface, a bottom surface and a sidewall. The top surface includes a circulate plate that allows for removably attachment to a drive system of a rotary floor machine. The sidewalls are substantially the height of stair risers and are configured to clean the near-vertical surface of stair risers and baseboards of a floor. The bottom surface is configured to clean the floor and the tread of a set of stairs. The bottom surface and sidewall further include a plurality of raised spikes that align with indented portions on the sidewall pad and floor pad that removably secure the floor pad and sidewall pad thereon.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/914,685 filed on Dec. 11, 2013. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cleaning appliances. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an improved attachment for rotary floor machines that is configured to clean a floor, the baseboards, and a set of stairs. The present invention is a disc-shaped housing that attaches to the drive system of a rotary floor machine. The housing includes sidewalls that are substantially the height of stair risers of a set of stairs, which allows the present invention to clean the near-vertical surface of stair risers of a set of stairs.

Cleaning a non-carpeted floor is a great way to renew the appearance of a scratched, worn finish without incurring the expense and hassle of completely refinishing the floor. Buffing, for example, is the final step any professional refinishing job, but it can also be done as a solitary process to restore the shine to a dull, lifeless non-carpeted floor, such as hardwood, marble, tile, or linoleum. Buffing will not remove deep scratches or heavy damage, however, it will remove the majority of surface scratches and help protect a floor. Thus, delaying the need to fully refinish or replace the floor. A rotary floor machine is an electrical floor scrubber that is used to clean and maintain non-carpeted floors such as hardwood, marble, or linoleum. They are also known as floor buffers or floor polishers and are used in schools, hospitals, offices and public buildings. Scaled-down versions are available for home use.

However, separate procedures have been conventionally required to clean and polish a set of stairs. Although treads and stair risers can have a dramatic impact on the aesthetic look of a building or house, stair risers, especially of a white or light color are susceptible to scuff marks. Rubber-soled shoes typically transfer black scuff marks that are particularly noticeable. Often typical procedures for cleaning a set of stairs requires heavy manual work. These procedures often require spraying a rag with an all-purpose cleaner and rubbing out markings on a stair riser. Sometimes, additionally it requires using a foam cleaning eraser and rubbing off the remaining scuff marks.

Therefore, cleaning a set of stairs often requires more arduous work than simply using a rotary floor machine. However, the present invention provides a solution for a more convenient method of cleaning a set of stairs. The present invention provides an attachment for rotary floor machines that is configured to clean a floor, baseboards, and both the treads and stair risers of a set of stairs. The rotary floor machine attachment includes a disc-shaped housing with a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall. The top surface of the rotary floor machine attachment includes a circular plate having a mounting flange centrally located that allows for removably attachment to a drive system of a rotary floor machine. The sidewalls are substantially the height of a stair riser in a set of stairs and are configured to clean the vertical surfaces of stair risers and baseboards of a floor. The bottom surface is configured to clean the floor and the tread of a set of stairs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to cleaning appliances, specifically rotary floor machines. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. Some device provide a polishing pad that is positioned under the undersurface and peripheral wall of the brush for polishing floors and baseboards. Other devices provide a generally bell shaped housing with rubbing surfaces formed on its bottom and on its side such that it can effect a rubbing action on a floor and the lower portion of the adjacent wall. These devices are limited as they do not disclose a rotary floor machine attachment that is configured to clean step risers of a set of stairs. The foregoing is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.

Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,772 to Desjardin is an auxiliary attachment is provided for rotary floor treatment machines having a rotary driving element extending downwardly from a generally bell shaped housing for detachable coupling with a rotary type floor treating accessory, such as a rotary brush, rotary buffer or rotary pad. The Desjardin device disclose a housing, a floor rubbing element, a rotatable drive assembly carried by said housing for detachable coupling with the rotary driving element of a rotary floor treatment machine so as to be rotatably driven thereby, and means for effecting reciprocation of said rubbing element in response to rotation of said assembly. The rubbing element has rubbing surfaces formed on its bottom and on its side such that it can effect a rubbing action on a floor and the lower portion of the adjacent wall. However, the Desjardin device does not provide a rotary floor machine attachment that can clean a step riser of a set of stairs.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,244 to Chappius is a floor buffer that discloses a carriage disposed substantially horizontally to the floor with a handle attached to one end of the carriage. The handle extends angularly upward and away from the carriage toward the operator. At least two wheels are rotatably mounted to the carriage. The Chappius device further disclosers a clockwise rotating buffer at the forward portion of the carriage and extends below the lower surface of the carriage to confront the floor. The rearward portion of the carriage produces upward and downward confrontation of the buffer to the floor. Power is transmitted from the butane engine to rotate the buffer, and the power transmission includes a centrifugal clutch and belt drive. However, the Chappius device does not provide a sidewall that is sized to substantially the height of a stair riser of a set of stairs.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,214 to Lavender is a brush that cleans and polishes floors and baseboards. The Lavender device is configured to be utilized with conventional buffing machines and easily fit convention water control rings. The brush incorporates bristles on its planar undersurface and also on its peripheral wall. A polishing pad is positioned under the undersurface and peripheral wall of the brush for polishing floors and baseboards. However, the Lavender device does not provide a floor buffer attachment that includes a sidewall that is configured to clean the stair risers of a set of stairs.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,141 to Annis provides a brush assembly for cleaning of baseboards and floors. The Annis device discloses a brush drive shaft and a brush housing combined with a baseboard-floor brush member disposed at the lower end of the brush housing. The brush member further includes a core portion and a multiplicity of flag portions of flexible abrasive material extending radially outward from the core portion ab out the periphery thereof. The flag portions extend radially outward of the brush housing. However, the Annis device does not provide a rotary floor machine attachment having a sidewall pad.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks. These devices are limited as they do not disclose an invention for the cleaning and buffing of step risers. The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing an attachment for rotary floor machines that is configured to clean and polish floors, baseboards, and both the tread and stair risers of a set of stairs. It is therefore submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to devices for cleaning of stair risers. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of rotary floor machines and its attachments now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved attachment for a rotary floor machine that is configured to buff a floor, baseboards, and both the treads and stair risers of a set of stairs.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment that is configured to attach to a rotary floor machine.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment that is configured to clean a floor, the baseboards, and both the treads and stair risers of a set of stairs.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment that includes a disc-shaped housing with a sidewall and bottom surface.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment, wherein the sidewalls are substantially the same height as the stair masters and are configured to clean the near-vertical surface of the stair risers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment that further includes a circulate plate having a centrally located mounting flange that includes a means for removable attachment to a drive system of a rotary floor machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment that further includes a plurality of linearly configured spikes on the bottom surface and sidewall that are configured to removably secure a floor pad and sidewall pad for cleaning.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved rotary floor machine attachment wherein the device may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective of the present invention tilted on its side and attached to a rotary floor machine.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective of the present invention tilted on its side, removably secured with a floor pad and a sidewall pad, and attached to a rotary floor machine.

FIG. 3 shows a side perspective of the present invention unattached to a rotary floor machine.

FIG. 4 shows an overhead perspective of the present invention in operation when cleaning a set of stairs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the rotary floor machine attachment. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for cleaning non-carpeted floors, baseboards, and a set of stairs with treads and stair risers. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side perspective of the rotary floor machine attachment 20 attached to a rotary floor machine 50. The rotary floor machine attachment 20 removably attaches to a rotary floor machine 50 that is configured to clean a floor, baseboard, and a set of stairs having the treads and stair risers. The rotary floor machine attachment 20 is also equipped to handle all other types of procedures such as stripping, scrubbing, polishing and burnishing. The conventional rotary floor machine is an upright, wide-based cleaner with handlebar controls 51 and requires two-handed steering. They have cleaning pads which are rotatably spun by a small motor or drive system 52. The rotary floor machine attachment 20 is a new and improved attachment that is removably attached to the drive system 52 of a rotary floor machine 50.

The rotary floor machine attachment 20 includes a disc-shaped housing 21 with a top surface 22, a bottom surfaces 23, and a sidewall 24. The top surface 22 of the rotary floor machine attachment 20 includes a circulate plate having a mounting flange with means for attaching to the drive system 52. The top surface 22 and the bottom surface 23 are substantially circular-shaped and coplanar to one another. The sidewall 24 extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface 22 and the bottom surface 23 along the peripheral edges thereof. The housing 21 further includes an interior wall 29 that forms a centrally located open aperture extending from the top surface 22 to the bottom surface 23. The sidewall 24 is substantially sized to the height of stair risers on a set of stairs and are configured to clean the near-vertical surface of stair risers and baseboards of a floor. The sidewall 24 is placed in contact to the near-vertical surface of the stair risers, wherein the drive system 52 will supply power and continuously rotate the sidewalls therealong to remove dirt and scuff marks.

The bottom surface 23 is configured to clean the floor and the tread of a set of stairs. The bottom surface 23 and sidewall 24 further include a plurality of raised spikes 26 that are arranged in a linear configuration to removably secure a floor pad and a sidewall pad for buffing or cleaning. In other embodiments, the bottom surface 23 and sidewall 24 are lined with a different type of fastener to removably secure floor pads and sidewall pads to the surfaces. These fasteners include, but are not limited to hook and loop fasteners and other suitable types of fasteners. The bottom surface 23 and sidewall 24 are preferably composed of a tough and durable polyurethane, however, other embodiments without limitation are composed of other suitable types of durable materials.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a side perspective of the rotary floor machine attachment 20 removably secured with a floor pad 27 and sidewall pad 28 and attached to a rotary floor machine 50. Rotary floor machine attachment 20 further comprise floor pad 27 and sidewall pad 28 having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The floor pad 27 and the sidewall pad 28 are attached to the bottom surface and sidewall, respectively through the raised spikes aforementioned. The raised spikes engage and nest in the indented portions on the interior surfaces of the floor pad 27 and the sidewall pad 28. The floor pad 27 and the sidewall pad 28, in other embodiments, may also be removably attached with hook and loop fasteners or other suitable types of fasteners. The sidewall pad 28 is a hollow cylindrical surface that substantially fits around the sidewall 24. The floor pad 27 is a circular pad that is placed plush against the bottom surface 23 and is sized to substantially the same size as the bottom surface 23. The floor pad 27, in this particular embodiment, does not include a circular aperture substantially in the middle of the floor pad 27. However, other embodiments of the floor pad 27 further include a circular opening, wherein the circular opening is sized to align with the centrally located open aperture of the housing.

The sidewall pad 28 is configured to clean baseboards and stair risers, while the floor pad 27 is configured to clean floors and the treads in a set of stairs. The sidewall pad 28 is sized to substantially match the height of a stair riser of a set of stairs. The sidewall pad 28 is particularly advantageous as it is configured to remove dirt or scuff marks on the stair risers, which is not particularly handled by a conventional rotary floor machine. The floor pad 27 and the sidewall pad 28 will accrue wear and tear over time, and replacement floor pads 27 and sidewall pads 28 can be removably secured.

The floor pad 27 and the sidewall pad 28 both have respective interior surfaces and exterior surfaces. The interior surfaces are lined with indented portions that align with the raised spikes to removably attach the floor pad 27 and sidewall pad 28 to the sidewall and bottom surface. The exterior surface of the floor pad 27 and sidewall pad 28 are placed in contact with the floor, baseboards, and a set of stairs to remove dirt and scuff marks. Depending on the type of floor care done, the exterior surface of different embodiments of floor pads 27 and sidewall pads 28 are preferably composed of synthetic, blended, natural fibers or microfiber. Certain embodiments of floor pads 27 and sidewall pads 28 are composed of synthetic fibers, which often are used for scrubbing and stripping procedures. Other embodiments use blended fiber or natural fiber, which are best for burnishing, while other embodiments are composed of microfibers, which are meant for cleaning procedures.

Certain floor pads are more efficient than other types for cleaning, polishing, burnishing, buffing, scrubbing and stripping procedures. In general, there is an industry standard color-coding system from light to dark for floor pads that respectively define least least-coarse pads to the most aggressive pads. Buffing pads are lightest in color and remove scuff marks and dirt floors. Cleaning pads are designed to clean a little more aggressively than buffing pads and remove dirt off a floor's surface without removing floor finish. Slightly more aggressive are scrubbing pads that remove the top lawyer or two of wax along with all the scratches and dirt. To remove more coats of wax, users turn to stripping pads which are darker in color. Burnishing pads are the most aggressive type of pad and apply heat and pressure to the floor to remove wax. The floor pad 27 may be color-coded similar to the industry standard. In addition, the sidewall pad 28, which is secured around the sidewall of the rotary floor machine attachment 20, will further comprise a similar color-coding system to align the coarseness of sidewall pad 28 with the floor pad 27.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a side perspective of the rotary floor machine attachment 20. The interior surfaces 33, 34 of the sidewall pad 28 and the floor pad 27 further include a plurality of indented portions 35 that align with the raised spikes 26 to removably attach the floor pad 27 and sidewall pad 28 to the sidewall 24 and bottom surface. Furthermore, the top surface 22 of the rotary floor machine attachment 20 includes a circular plate 31 having a mounting flange 32 with means for attaching to the drive system 52. The circular plate 31 is sized to substantially align with the top surface 22, wherein the circulate plate 31 is placed in contact and plush on the top surface 22. The mounting flange 32 is centrally located and aligned with the centrally located aperture on housing 21. Different rotary machines have different mechanisms for removably attaching the mounting flange 32. Therefore, the particular means for attachment will depend on the particular rotary floor machine.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an overhead perspective of the rotary floor machine attachment 20 as removably attached to a rotary floor machine 50 to clean a set of non-carpeted stairs. The bottom surface 23 is configured to care for the tread 60 of a set of stairs. Depending on the type of floor pad 27 removably attached to the rotary floor machine 50, the rotary floor machine attachment 20 is configured to polish, buff, clean, scrub, strip, and burnish the tread 60. The bottom surface 23 is also configured to care for any non-carpeted floor. The sidewall pad 28 is configured to care for the stair risers 25 for a set of stairs. The sidewall pad 28 is pressed against the vertical surface of the stair risers 25 to polish, buff, clean, scrub, strip, or burnish the stair risers 25. The sidewall pad 28 are sized to substantially the same height as the stair risers 25 to remove dirt or scuff marks thereon.

According to the preferred embodiment, the rotary floor machine attachment 20 further provides a method of cleaning the tread and stair risers of a set of stairs comprising the steps of:

-   -   selecting a set of stairs having at least one tread and stair         riser for cleaning;     -   mounting a housing having a top surface, bottom surface,         sidewall and circular plate with a mounting flange with means         for removable attachment to a drive system of a rotary floor         machine;     -   attaching a sidewall pad to said sidewall and a floor pad to         said bottom surface by aligning raised portions on said sidewall         and said floor pad to aligning indented portions on an interior         surface of said sidewall and said floor pad;     -   placing said sidewall pad against said stair riser and said         floor pad against said tread, wherein said sidewall pad and said         sidewall substantially sized to match the height of said stair         riser;     -   rotating said sidewall pad and said floor pad thereon powered by         said drive system of said rotary floor machine to clean said         tread and said stair riser of said set of stairs.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A rotary floor machine attachment for cleaning a set of stairs having at least one tread and a stair riser, comprising: a housing with a top surface, bottom surface, sidewall, and an interior wall forming a centrally located open aperture that extends from said top surface to said bottom surface; said sidewall extending perpendicularly from a peripheral edge of said top surface and said bottom surface; said top surface comprising a circular plate having a mounting flange; said mounting flange having a means for attachment to a drive system of a rotary floor machine; said bottom surface further comprising a floor pad; said sidewall further comprising a sidewall pad; said floor pad and said sidewall pad having interior and exterior surfaces. 2) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially disc-shaped. 3) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said sidewall is substantially the height of the stair risers in a set of stairs. 4) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said exterior surface of said sidewall pad and said floor pad composed of synthetic fiber, blended fiber, natural fiber or microfibers. 5) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said bottom surface and said sidewall further comprising a plurality of raised spikes. 6) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 5, wherein said interior surfaces of said floor pad and said sidewall pad further comprising aligning indented sections to said raised spikes. 7) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 5, wherein said raised spikes of said floor pad and said sidewall pad are configured to engage and nest in said aligning indented sections to removably attach to said bottom surface and said sidewall. 8) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said sidewall pad is cylindrical in shape and configured to be placed in contact and removably secured around said sidewall. 9) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said floor pad circular in shape and configured to be placed in contact and underneath said bottom surface. 10) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 8, wherein said floor pad further comprises a small center hole. 11) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said exterior surface of said floor pad and said sidewall pad are configured to polish, buff, clean, scrub, strip and burnish non-carpeted floors, baseboards, and a set of stairs with treads and step risers. 12) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 1, wherein said mounting flange is centrally located on said circular plate. 13) The rotary floor machine attachment of claim 12, wherein said mounting flange aligned with said centrally located open aperture. 14) A method for cleaning the stair risers of a set of stairs, comprising the steps of: selecting a set of stairs having at least one tread and stair riser for cleaning; mounting a housing having a top surface, bottom surface, sidewall and circular plate with a mounting flange with means for removable attachment to a drive system of a rotary floor machine; attaching a sidewall pad to said sidewall and a floor pad to said bottom surface by aligning raised portions on said sidewall and said floor pad to aligning indented portions on an interior surface of said sidewall and said floor pad; placing said sidewall pad against said stair riser and said floor pad against said tread, wherein said sidewall pad and said sidewall substantially sized to match the height of said stair riser; rotating said sidewall pad and said floor pad thereon powered by said drive system of said rotary floor machine to clean said tread and said stair riser of said set of stairs. 